Israel Envoy Confers at British Foreign Office on Iraq, Lebanon

July 16, 1958

LONDON (Jul. 15)

Israel’s Ambassador Ellahu Elath called at the Foreign Office today and conferred with Foreign Under Secretary Sir William Hayner on the latest Middle East developments. At the same time, Israeli Embassy Counsellor Arthur Liveran conferred with the head of the Middle East Division at the Foreign Office. It is understood that the Israeli officials were informed of the American landings in Lebanon in advance of the public announcement.

In the House of Commons this afternoon, Foreign Secretary Selwyn Lloyd refused to give any assurances that British troops would not be sent to the Middle East. Almost simultaneously, the War Ministry announced that British troops on Cyprus had been alerted and the Royal Navy had been placed on a 24-hour notice basis. It was also announced today that 6,000 British troops were ready to move. The units were identified as the 19th Brigade based at Colchester and the 29th Brigade at Dover.

The entire British press underlined today the danger inherent for Israel in a Middle East united under Nasser’s hegemony. In the words of one editorial writer, the peril for Israel had increased “to the danger point.” However, certain circles in London still express the belief that Britain might find a modus vivendi in the Middle East by dumping Israel.